Improvement in breech-loadzng fire-arms



L ALBBIGHT.

- Breech-Loading Fire-Arm. N0. 38,366. Patented May 5, 1863,

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS ALBRIGHT, OF OTTAWVA, OHIO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,366, dated May 5, 1863.

1'0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LoUrs ALBRIGHT, of Ottawa, Putnam county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Breech-Loading Fire-Arm; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe annexed drawings, making part of this specification.

My improvement relates to the class of firearms having a chambered breech-plug hinged parallel with the axis in such a manner that it can be turned over clear of the barrel to receive the charge and be turned back in line with the bore for the closure of the breech and discharge of the piece. 7

Figure l is a perspective view of the gun with the breech-plug open. Fig. 2 shows a modification of my breech-plug adapted for a metallic cartridge. Fig. 3 is an adaptation of the plug for self-feeding wafers.

The stock A is joined to the barrel B by a stout web, 0, which secures the necessary rigidity and the required interval D fora breechplug, E, which is hinged at F parallel to the axis of the gun and to one edge of the web 0, so as to be capable of being opened to the position shown in Fig. 1. r

A is an abutment adapted to be screwed in or out of the stock A, so as to enable the operator to compensate for fouling, expansion, 850., and have-at all times a working and yet perfectly gas-tight joint.

The dog G and other internal parts of the lock are contained with the plug, and may be of any approved construction. The hammer H and nipple I are secured to the plug in the manner shown. The touch-hole J, extending from the nipple at the top of the plug, emerges from that end of the plug which closes the bore. The trigger K is hinged in such a position within the web 0 of the stock as to act upon the portion of the lock contained within the plug only when such plug is fully closed. A sharp blade, L, attached to the side of the plug, flush with its forward end, serves to sever and eject the butt of the cartridge in the act of closing the plug. The pintle M, which completes the plug-hinge, is made readily removable, to enable the substitution of other forms of the plug, to be presently described.

To adapt my gun for occasional use with the metallic percussion cartridge, I provide the modification of my plug represented by E,

I Fig. 2. In this modification that part of the front end of the plug which in the act of closing would be intercepted by the projecting rear end of the cartridge-casing consists of a block, N, which, being connected to the hammer by a rod, a, and pin a, is by the act of cooking retracted so as to be clear of the cartridge, and is closed up again flush with the plug-face by, the forward stroke of the hammer in firing. In order to further insure the closing of the block N, a spring, a, may be intro:

duced to exert a forward pressure on the rod a of the block. The plug E in place of a touch-hole has an aperture, J, in the plug in order to enable a long beak, h, which projects from the hammer, to strike the cartridge.

Another modification of my plug is shown at E, Fig. 2.

O is a cylindrical magazine, to contain a number of wafers, which are inserted from below, and secured by a suitable stopper, between which and the wafers a spiral spring is inserted.

l? is a slide, which is retracted by the cocking of the hammer through the medium of a Vibrating finger, Q. This retraction allows the column of wafers to ascend, so as to present a wafer to be forwarded by the advance of the slide consequent upon the springing forward of the hammer in the act of firing.

Operation: The form represented in Fig. 1

is operated as follows: The breech plug E is opened to the position shown, and a paper or foil covered cartridge of suitable size is inserted in the rear end of the bore. The closure of the plug then acts to sever and eject the butt of the cartridge, and brings the vent of the touch-hole opposite the center of the bore. The nipple being then capped and the gun cocked, the piece is discharged by means ofthe trigger in the usual way.

It will be seen that the trigger K and dog G are entirely detached,and consequently that the gun cannot be fired unless the plug is in the proper completely closed position.

'The form of plug represented in Fig. 2 is operated as follows: The plug E being hinged to the piece in the open position, and the hammer being half-cocked, so as to draw back the block N, allows the closure and firing of the gun, the forward motion of the ha1nmer,'in firing, acting to advance the block N and close the breech.

The operation of the plug represented in Fig. 3 is asfollows: The magazine being supplied with wafers, the plug E is hinged to its place in the gun, and being closed the operation of cocking the hammer acts to retract the slide and allow the ascent of a wafer, which, in firing, is fed forward into the cup R at the mouth of the touch-hole. The firing is then effected by the trigger, as before, the beak h of the hammer H striking the wafer which has just been fed forward.

. .Iclaimhereinas new and of my iD Qn iQ TT 1. The combination of thehinged and sliding breech-plug E, E, or E, carrying the dog, hammer, and mainspring, the trigger K, pivoted in the stationary stock, and the screw-threaded and milled abutment A, when the said parts are constructed, arranged, and operated in the manner and for the purposes specified.

2. The knife L, projecting laterally from and fiu'shwith the forward end of the hinged plug E E E, and acting to sever and remove the butt of the cartridge by the act of closing the plug, in the manner set forth.

scribed.

5. In the breech loading arm' above 'de'-' scribed, the employment of the exchangeable hinged breech-blocks E E E for the use of differentforms of ammunition, as explained.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand. I

LOUIS ALBRIGHT.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, H. HUBER. 

